Conducting Research at Stanford University
By Ella Chu ‘26The Du Bois Lab is an interdisciplinary lab that bridges organic synthesis and chemical biology. Their goal is to use nature’s arsenal of neurotoxins to understand the complex relationships that ion channels have with human health. This summer, I worked to improve the safety and scalability of one of step in the synthesis of samandarine, a toxin secreted by the European fire salamander.
In just 10 weeks, I got a thorough look into the world of organic chemistry research. I am now able to independently read scientific articles, set up experiments, analyze the results, and present my findings. Not only did I develop an invaluable set of skills, but I learned that I love working in research labs. My favorite part was recognizing reactions that I learned in my classes at Bowdoin. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited to pursue similar experiences in the future!
Internship funded by the Richard G. D'Auteuil '82 and Kimberly A. Labbe '82 Internship Fund.